Battery Cut Off Switch

[Garry Barnes]

Re: Blade Switch on My 1967

Paul, thanks for the info. I do have a "knob type" on my '56 and it seems to work fine. The side terminal on my '75 is a different story. It seems that the stress of the battery cable reaching the extra length of the cut-off (which it was not made to do) and the angle that it enters the battery seems to pull the two sections apart. Needless to say that I am always checking to see if the courtesy light is still on. I had not seen a blade type cut-off for a side mount terminal until now. Thanks.
Garry

[Gary Schisler]

Re: Blade Switch on My 1967

Garry, fwiw, I have used both types on my 72 and I really prefer the blade type. Never a question that it is on or off and just poorly connected. After my initial experience with an original green know type, I quickly removed it. It wasn't even the cheapo repro unit but an original one.

Never a problem with the blade type and I can connect it while sitting in the driver's seat without significant turning around.

Gary

[Roger S.]

Re: Blade Switch on My 1967

I use the disconnect more for an anti-theft deterent than to prevent an electrical fire. When I what to disconnect my battery I unscrew the knob and put it in my pocket for security or sometimes I'll put it in one of the rear compartments. Makes the car hard to start when the electrical system is disconnected. With the blade type disconnect the thief can close the blade and the electrical systems are connected again. I also rethreaded the knob and the terminals to a different thread figuring most thieves would not carry a knob around or if they did they wouldn't be able to screw their knob into my terminals. For the blade being mounted on the side of the battery I felt the blade as it swung to close or open was to close to the compartment latch which is metal.
Roger

[Joe L.]

Re: Blade Switch on My 1967

Roger------

The blade-type switch is the way to go. I've heard of way too many problems with the "green knob" type switch. I bought one years ago, but I'll never install it.

As far as an anti-theft device, the green knob switch with knob removed might present some minor problems for a thief, but nothing really significant. Just how long do you suppose that it would take a thief to remove the switch and hook up the battery cable directly to the battery? Of course, it does require him to spend a little longer time in his efforts to steal the car, but not enough to be a factor in most instances.

[Jim D.]

Re: Blade Switch on My 1967

Been using the dreaded "Green Knob" for 20+ years on 2 cars. Not a single problem. I'll put one on my next car also. Haven't we beaten his horse to death yet?